whitehead



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(ModeL) 0; J. B. & E. J. WHITEHEAD.

7 BOOK HOLDER. No. 267,812.

Patented Nov.v 21

N. PETERS. Phalo-Lnhoflmpbm. Wllbingian. D C

.4 tori e115 I ('Model.) 2Shets-Sheet 2.

C. J. B. & E. J. WHITEHEAD,

BOOK HOLDER.

A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CELIA J. B. WHITEHEAD AND EMORY J. WHITEHEAD, OF BLOOMFIELD, N. J.

BOOK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part-of Letters Patent-No. 267,812, dated November 21,, 1882.

Application filed September 30, 1882. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CELIA J. B. WHITE- HEAD and EMORY J. WHITEHEAD, citizens of New Jersey, United States of America, residing at Bloomfield, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Holders; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of devices termed book-holders, which are adapted to hold the pages of a book open at a particular place, as required, and this device is designed more especially for books used in connection with music-racks of a piano or organ, or stands for holding theleaves or pages open from the top in contradistinction from the bottom of the book.

Our invention consists of the book-holder composed of three pieces-to wit,the bar with the downward ends or extensions and the two spring-fingers extending below the ends of the bar ends, whereby the device can be used on books of all sizes.

In the annexed drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of our device.' Fig. Sis a View showing its application to a musicbook on a music-rack, and Fig. 4c is another view showing its application to a thick book.

As already stated, our book-holder is composed of three pieces, in which A represents the bar, with the ends b 1), parallel with each other, forming an arch. This bar is prefen ably made of malleable or cast iron, and may be of any desired configuration and ornamentation. B B are the spring-fingers, made from strips of fiat steel of a given widthand thickness, and fashioned into semi-heart shape. The upper ends, which are bent inward and downward, .are riveted or otherwise secured to the downward-extended ends of the bar A, as shown in Figs. 1 and2 of the drawings. It will be noticed by reference to the drawings that only the upper curved parts of the springs are riveted to the bar, and that the remainder of the springs are unattached, and their lower ends extend below the downward ends of the bar about one-fourth of an inch, and slightly curve outward. The object of having the lower ends of the spring-fingers project below the downward ends a b of the bar is to form a lip to each finger to aid in adjusting readily the device to the book, which is accomplished by placing the lip portion of the spring-fingers against the cover and pressing forward and downward until the bar spans the top of the book.

By this construction and organization of the parts'composin g the device we are enabled to produce a book-holder that can be used on large and thick as well as thin books,

To apply the book-holder to a thick book, so as to hold it open near the middle, the springfingers are passed between the leaves of the book on opposite sides of the open place, and by pressing forward and down the spring-fingers will yield and the ends of the bar be brought down and over the open pages of the book, which keeps thebook open at the desired place, as shown.

The connected parts composing the bookholder may benickel-plated in the well-known manner.

What we claim as' our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, the bookholder consisting of the bar with the downward-extended ends and the connected springfingers having their lower ends free and ex tending below the ends of the bar,'substantially as described.

2. A book-holder, having two flat springfingers arranged on opposite sides and extending below their attached bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CELIA J. B. WHITEHEAD. EMORY J. WVHITEHEAD.

\Vitnesses:

WILFRED HOWELL, J. M. ZIEGLER. 

